Contact Info
I am interested in how social structures and agency interact to shape human biology in the past. My dissertation research integrates practice theory, embodiment, and structural violence to examine how military service produced Napoleonic soldier and civilian bodies. To address the embodiment of miitary rationing and soldier foraging strategies, I reconstruct changes in diet and nutrition over the life course. The primary methodologies I employ to reconstruct diet are stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen and carbonate and individual amino acids in bone collagen.
In addition to my dissertation research, I work as an osteologist with the Dayr al-Barsha Project in Egypt where I examine human skeletal remains from Old Kingdom/1st Intermediate, Middle Kingdom, and Roman period cemeteries. This work focuses on reconstructing the health and lifeways of ancient Egyptians.
Awards
2018 Brian Daniel Gumbert Archaeological Graduate Research Award ($750)
2018-2019 The Beverly Hirsch Frank Graduate Fellowship for Women in Science ($2000)
2018 Human Biology Association Student Member Travel Award ($500)
2018 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
2018 Hudson Teaching Award
2017-2018 Future Faculty Fellowship Program
2017 The Graduate School Dean’s Award ($3000)
2017 Melissa Hague Field Study Award ($500)
2016 Title VIII Program for Research and Training in Eastern Europe and Eurasia Fellowship in the Lithuanian Language ($5300)
Selected Conference Presentations
2019 Holder S, Reisema LJ, Dupras T, Jankauskas R. Exploring Cooperation and Hierarchy among Napoleonic Soldiers by Reconstructing Dietary Variation using Stable Isotope Analysis. Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, NM. April 10-14.
2018 Holder S, Reitsema LJ. Engaging Bioarchaeology Undergraduate Students through Writing in the Discipline. Canadian Association of Physical Anthropology Annual Meeting. London, ON. Oct 31-Nov 3.
2018 Holder S, Miliauskienė Ž, Jankauskas R, Dupras TL. Childhood Growth Disruptions and Adult Stature: A Bioarchaeological Investigation of Life History in Napoleonic Soldiers. Austin, TX. April 11-12. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23110
2017 Holder S, Reitsema LJ, Garland CJ, Smith AK, Lunsford J, Krajewska M, Kozłowski T. Addressing the Inertness of Bones and Teeth in Isotopic Studies of Stress and Disease: A Review of Advances and Future Prospects. American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. April 19-22. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23210 Y
2016 Holder S, Reitsema LJ, Dupras TL, Jankauskas R. Women in War: A Multi-isotopic Analysis of Females Discovered in a Mass Grave with Napoleonic Solders. American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA. April 13-16. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22955
2013, Master of Arts, University of Central Florida, Department of Anthropology
2010, Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology, Summa cum laude
2010, Certificate: Conceptual Foundations of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Research
Bioarchaeology; stable isotope analysis; diet reconstruction; human osteology; paleopathology; nutritional stress; Europe; Egypt
Selected Publications
Reitsema, LJ, and Holder S. (2018). Stable Isotope Analysis and the Study of Human Stress, Disease, and Nutrition. Bioarchaeology International 2(2):63-74. DOI: 10.5744/bi.2018.1018
Holder S, Dupras TL, Jankauskas R, Williams LJ, and J. Schultz. (2017). Reconstructing Diet in Napoleon’s Grand Army using Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 163(1):53-63. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23184
Grants
2018 Summer Research Travel Grant for Doctoral Students ($2000)
2017 Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Grants for Doctoral Students ($2500)
2017 Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research ($1000)
